Have you ever had a blowout with someone you loved?
I have, and it’s not pretty. A safe place is shattered and the only way to fix it is reconciliation. Sadly, sometimes, it is impossible.
Today some families have stopped meeting for holidays because they can’t get along. They argue over politics, sports, and, yes, religion. In our polarized society, we see more and more of this.
Even a no-fault divorce makes sure there’s no opportunity to get back together.
Spiritually, without reconciliation, there is no hope for salvation—no opportunity for a relationship with God. We can’t do anything to make things right with God.
Let us not take what Christ did for granted. While we were unlovely, estranged, sinful, and even helpless, Christ gave His life for us.
When we are at war, the surrendered are prisoners-of-war. When we surrender to God we are tenderly welcomed as prisoners-of-love.
Before we loved God, it was an unrequited love.
Unrequited love or one-sided love is not openly reciprocated or understood as such by the beloved. The beloved may not be aware of the admirer’s deep and pure affection, or may consciously reject it.
The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines unrequited as “not reciprocated or returned in kind”.
For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly
(Romans 5:6 CSB)
Reconciliation was His idea, not ours!
Reconciliation brings intimacy. The estranged knows nothing but enmity. The long-distant know nothing but bits and pieces of the truth. Only the reconciled know God personally. Every day, the sweetness of that relationship grows stronger and stronger.
Here are a few definitions helpful in understanding the value of reconciliation – right standing with God.
Estranged: To remove from customary environment or association. To arouse indifference where there had formerly been love, affection, or tenderness. It breaks a bond of affection or hostility, with consequent separation.
Estranged, by its very nature, is loss of affection or interest. Such separation results in rebellion, discontent, alienation, and great loss.
It is true, such estrangement hurts our soul, but it breaks the heart of God.
Adam and Eve were estranged from God, and we have inherited that relationship.
We say, “My will, not Thine!”
Long-distant: A long-distance relationship is considered long distant when communication opportunities are restricted. This is spiritual, the distance is not geographical but intentional.
We keep Him at arm’s length: not as enemies, but not friends either.
God does not taint the long distant relationship. The one who keeps the relationship long distant controls the relationship. They’re comfortable doing their own thing. That is until trouble comes, and then they’ll reach out to God.
This long-distant relationship is a roller coaster ride. Sadly, more Christians have come here and refuse to take that step of intimacy. Occasionally, we let Him in, and occasionally, we don’t. We want God’s will only if it meets our standards.
We say, “Sometimes, Your will and sometimes Mine.”
Intimate: Fully reconciled to live a “with-God life. We belong to God on the deepest level because, on the deepest level, He reconciled us. Intimacy is close companionship, contact, comfort, and familiarity that no one can take away.
Intimacy is a warm and consoling counsel developed by trust and obedience. Furthermore, it is personal and private. All rights are relinquished to God.
We say, “Not my will, but Thine!”
Reconciliation means God restores our relationship to harmony and resolves differences to make sure our relationship is consistent, settled, and resolved.
But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 CSB.
Through Christ, our status with God changed.
To declare us reconciled—in right relationship—Christ had to die.
It took a painful death and glorious resurrection to declare us reconciled – in right standing. Now we are saved from the wrath of God.
But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 CSB.
We are saved, through Christ, from God’s wrath.
And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.
Romans 5:11 CSB
The final proof of God’s love is Christ Jesus died for us.
Christ died when we were estranged and in a state of hostility.
Christ freely comes to our side to help us, guide us, and fill us with His strength so that we may overcome temptation, long-distance, and estrangement.
Christ declares us justified (just as if we never sinned) before God, so we can live, breathe, and have our being in the Holy: Holy Father, Holy Son, and Holy Spirit.
By grace, He allows us to live the “with-God” life.
Praise God! It doesn’t end there. Jesus continues to walk with us and talk with us. He calls us His own.
The process (known as sanctification) transforms us and conforms us to His will until we meet Him face-to-face. My desire is that when we meet face-to-face that I not only know His voice, I want to know His language.
One thing, and one thing, is clear. The death of Christ is God’s proof of love eternal. No longer, it is a one-sided love. Christ comes to us gently and lovingly, not angry or wrathful even if we deserve his wrath.
God’s attitude never changes. His love is always faithful, loyal, and enduring. We are estranged no more and the door to intimacy is always wide open.
The love of God is greatly amplified when God loves the unlovely.
Praise God! We are reconciled for a heartfelt, perfect, and true love relationship!
God is righteous, He is the highest good and the only perfect Being. Therefore, He is the only thing in the universe actually deserving our praise, honor, and glory.
The truth: We find our value in the ultimate worth of the One who died to redeem us – to reconcile Himself to us in spite of our inherent unworthiness.
Another Gospel: God loves me because I’m valuable.
True Gospel: I’m valuable because God loves me.
Immanuel: God is with us
In conclusion, let never forget reconciliation is God’s idea – Not ours. He took that first painful step and now it’s our turn for us to freely come to Him. We no longer walk long-distant, but hand-in-hand.
Happy are the people who are in right standing with God – reconciled and redeemed!
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